22-Gates-Benin-Dedehouanou Considering social gender norms under income shocks: Evidence to support women’s economic resilience and empowerment in Benin

Abstract

It is common knowledge—and recognised by the UN's Adaptation Fund—that norms and customs govern how vulnerable communities respond to adverse income shocks and their devastating impacts, thereby influencing women’s economic empowerment (WEE). These norms often prescribe behaviours, decisions and roles according to gender. Due to a lack of reliable evidence, however, there is no clear understanding of how local and social (gender) norms may affect men’s and women’s respective abilities to adopt transformative resilience options, or of the factors that can create a disconnect between the recommended resilience actions and the ability of local communities to adopt them. And without a clear understanding of the interactions between these norms and the gender gaps, the effectiveness of policies for promoting large-scale adoption of transformative resilience strategies and WEE cannot be accurately predicted. Addressing these resilience gaps puts a premium on transformative research and capacity-strengthening initiatives that harness diversity in the source of scientific knowledge (local, global, and transdisciplinary) to enable a better understanding of the consequences of resilience actions, and how to enhance the adoption of those that are needed.


Members

Project leader: SENAKPON FIDELE ANGE DEDEHOUANOU

Project researchers: Vihoutou Médjikouê Marthe KOUGBLENOU MENOU | Raouf MAMA SANNI


Journal publication

No journal publications.


Working Papers

No working papers.


Policy Briefs

Title Modified Size Comments Recommendations
Supporter la résilience des ménages pour l’autonomisation des filles et des femmes au regard des normes sociales en milieu rural au Bénin 2024-10-03 368.80kB 0 0

Final report

No final reports.


Proposal

No proposals.


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